Enhanced temperature sensing based on sub-threshold nonlinear spectra of one-dimensional photonic crystal with a Kerr defect layer

摘要

A new method to achieve highly sensitive temperature sensing is proposed based on the nonlinear spectral properties of a one-dimensional photonic crystal (1DPC) composed of temperature-sensitive materials with a Kerr defect layer. The sensitivity can be two orders of magnitude higher than that of the corresponding linear 1DPC structure. The sensitivity and measuring range can be precisely tuned. These properties favor the fabrication of a versatile temperature sensor with switchable fine and coarse tuning functions. This principle of nonlinear temperature sensing can also be extended to other kinds of spectrum-based sensors to obtain higher performance.